In 2019, US jeans imports declined 3.16 per cent. The balance of power in denim manufacturing took a dramatic turn in 2019, leading to a decline in volume and value for the top three suppliers–China, Mexico and Bangladesh–and strong upswings for the next three–Vietnam, Pakistan and Egypt.

US denim imports from China plummeted 25.87 per cent in volume in 2019. The fall in value was 25.68 per cent. Mexico’s denim shipments to the US fell 1.84 per cent in value in 2019. The fall in volume was 6.78 per cent. Denim shipments from Bangladesh posted a 3.5 per cent increase in value in the year, but saw volumes fall 2.49 per cent. Jeans imports from Vietnam jumped 25.6 per cent in value in 2019. In volume, the country shipped 28.62 per cent more merchandise for the year. Denim imports from Pakistan rose 8.69 per cent in volume while increasing 5.13 per cent in value. Imports from Egypt rose 12.7 per cent in value and increased 8.96 per cent in volume. Denim imports from Nicaragua were up 16.91 per cent in value terms while volume was down 3.73 per cent. And denim imports from Cambodia increased 11.8 per cent in value as volume decreased 0.49 per cent in the year.